For the first time since 2019, the Kansas City Chiefs are on a two-game skid after losing to the Los Angeles Chargers 30-24 on Sunday afternoon. This is the first time since the 2015 campaign that the Chiefs drop to the 1-2 record on the season.
The Chiefs came into Week 3 looking to avenge their one-point loss to the Baltimore Ravens last week. However, just as turnovers were the culprit to the loss a week ago, they played a big role in Kansas City’s loss this week as well.
The Chiefs lost the football on each of their first three offensive possessions to start the first half and quickly found themselves down 14-3 going into the locker room.
Although Kansas City’s defense played relatively well, they struggled to stop L.A. through the air as Chargers QB Justin Herbert connected on 26 of 38 passing attempts for 281 yards and four touchdowns.
One of Herbert’s top targets was wide receiver Mike Williams, who finished with seven catches for 122 yards and two scores. Running back Austin Ekler also had a big day catching the football, registering 6 receptions for 52 yards and a TD, and WR Keenan Allen finished with eight catches for 50 yards and a TD.
A pleasant surprise from the Chiefs’ defense was how well they played against the run despite ranking dead last in the league in run defense. After getting torched by the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens in the previous two weeks, Kansas City allowed the L.A. ground attack to gain just 77 yards on 22 rushing attempts.
On the other sideline, Kansas City struggled offensively. Patrick Mahomes completed 26 of 44 passes for 260 yards, three TDs, and two picks. Several of Mahomes’ throws went through the hands of his receivers and he was also under duress as right tackle Lucas Niang struggled to block Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa.
Kansas City finally got into the end zone to start the third quarter. Mahomes drove the offense 70 yards on 12 plays and a two-yard strike to tight end Jody Forton brought the Chiefs to within three points from taking the lead.
After forcing the Chargers to go three and out, Kansas City got into the end zone once again as the Chiefs’ offense moved 65 yards up the field in 10 plays, and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire glided up the field for the 10-yard score on a screenplay.
On the following two drives, the Chiefs and Chargers each traded scoring possessions. First, L.A. retook the lead on a 20-yard pass from Justin Herbert to Mike Williams to cap off an 11-play, 75-yard drive. Only for Mahomes and the Chiefs fire right back by handing the ball off to WR Mecole Hardman on a Jet-Sweep for an 8-yard score to finish a 75-yard drive to begin the fourth quarter.
Down 24-21, the Chargers marched 75 yards up the field to get inside Kansas City’s ten-yard line before being forced to kick the game-tieing field goal and allowing Mahomes and the Chiefs offense to come back onto the field.
However, trouble struck. As Mahomes floated a pass deep intended for Travis Kelce, the wind carried the ball too far out of reach and into the arms of defensive back Alohi Gilman for the interception.
Eight plays later, Herbert makes Kansas City pay by finding Mike Williams for a four-yard score to finish a 40-yard drive and L.A.’s defense does the rest as the Chargers hand Kansas City its second-consecutive loss of the season.
